New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-06-29
Systematic Husbandry.

quarters report of the Kansas state
board of agriculture:
Several years since, a member of
the Jefferson county bar, who had some
time before abandoned the practice of
his profess ion and retired to his farm,
said to me: ut requires more skill
and general ability to run a farm sue.
cessfully than to conduct successful
legal practice. and after trying both
professions know whereof I speak.
To plan the business of farm, SO as
provide against the contingencies and
mlshaps which may arise without inter-
ferlng with the steady, continuous
prosecution of the regularly recurring
work OF the seasons, requires sagacity,
foresight, and calculation. Indeed, it
requires generalship." This remark
made an impression on my mind. Its
sagacity and truthfuln ess became ap-
parent upon reflection. To properly
systematic the intricate business of
the husbandman is the first and
most Important step in overcoming the
many obstacles and vicissitudes which
beset his road to success. The greater
the number OF conditions and elements
which constitute a problem, the greater
the necessity of a systematic arrange
ment and consideration of the same, in
order to arrive at correct result
And just in proportion to the condi-
lions, eXlgencies, and vicissitudes which
q 0t,yy
necessity of systematic, deliberate plan
ming in order to bring the business to
successful issue.
The average farmer can scarcely be
considered successful business man.
And the principal source of his fail
ure is the slipshod, hap-hazard way in
which he goes at his work. In evil
dence OF this, note the appearance of
the farms in travelling through the
country; at least one half of them do
not present that air of thrift and pros
perty which indicate systematic,
well managed business. We see many
with dilapidated buildings and fences,
crops behind the season or overrun
with weeds, indicating that there is a
screw loose somewhere. l am not
hopeful of a radical change in this
state OF rural affairs at an early day.
think we may reasonably look for
thrift and tidiness upon every hand
about the time of the millennium
not sooner; for men are creatures of
habit, either hereditary or acquired.
and OF all men farmers are most inn
patient Of change in their habits of
life or business. There is much of
hot ~ Al,
that is, resistance to a change of
state, either Of motion or rest. 1t is
my observation that mechanics, bust
ness OF professional men, who drop
their trade and profession and take up
farming, are us Il rule more successful
farmers than those who have never
followed any other business but aeri-
culture. The reason [ assign for this
IS that they carry into the business of
the husbandman the methodical bust
ness habits and system of the trade or
profession they have formerly fol-
lowed-an illustration of the superior
ity OF system over disorder, OF no
method.
BY system of farming I mean plan
or scheme by which the various stock
and crops handled on the farm are So
connected as to create chain of mu-
tual dependencies, SO, far as such crops
and stock by their natures may be mu-
tually dependent, and the whole to be
gathered into one regular union of
principles. Now. no farmer need sit
down and fold his hands and expect
someone to furnish him with q system
ready-made;. he must make it for him.
self Nor is it a simple task that one
may do in an hour; it is deep prob
lem, containing varying conditions,
among which may be mentioned the
size OF the farm, its fertility, state of
cultivation, distance from market,
value, the capital. habits and resources
of the owner, the brain and Drawn he
may possess, the needs, demands. and
habits Of his family, and thousand
other conditions that he alone is quail
fed to. consider. And in the system
adopted, no cast-iron immutable rules
will do, for while it is unwIse to- make
radical changes because of fuctuating
prices or partial failure of crops. still
circumstances will occur which call
for partial or entire change OF plans.
and the successful farmer nnst be ON
the alert to take advantage of such cir
cnmsyances- This is progressive age,
and the coming successful farmer must
adopt a system which does not run on
the cog of the last generation The
past twenty-five years have witnessed
marvellous changes in farm machinery,
causing wonderfully increased produc-
ton, and resulting in intens tying a
competition already sharp. and only
those farmers can hope to win success
who keep themselves fully abreast Of the
times, who know the needs aid de-
mands Of the markets, and who classify
and arrange the work and products Of
the farm according to well-digested
and deliberately adopted plan.
How She Lost Her Hearing.
Mrs. O'Donnsn was papering the